Saddleback Valley District elementary schools going downhill?

[CAVA1990]

Is it possible they may be closing schools because of declining enrollments? In a lot of older areas the number of school age kids shrinks and it makes sense to close schools and open new ones in places where the population of younger families is growing. Is that perhaps what's going on here?

[aliciapeet]

I think that is the reasoning for the closing but many are arguing that it was closed without more research...as Lake Forest is projecting more housing development in the near future and so it would then need to "build" or open another school for those homes...

[Fontucky]

Sad for the Trabuco kids. They won't be able to walk to school anymore.

[JustJulia]

We moved in 2008 due to job relocation. We were alarmed when schools started to close and were told that the older, smaller schools didn't have the space or resources for the growing student body (enrollment is up), and they had to pay for principals and staff at each school. I was told it is less expensive to run one large school than two small ones.

[mrwumpus]

Our child's 2nd grade class in an SVUSD school is about 31 students currently. No teacher aides, just parent volunteers.

Here are the total expenditures, by category for Aliso Elementary (2008-2009):

Teacher salaries = 63%
Other staff salaries = 10%
Benefits = 19%
Books and supplies = 2%
Services and direct support = 5%

You can see more info here: Saddleback Valley Unified School District

[aliciapeet]

Here is also the release and comparison of all the school districts with salaries, furlough days, number of students etc..just click on each district for detailed information--Saddleback has a "qualified" status which means it may not meet its finanicial obligations as compared to Irvine or Orange which is "positive" meaning the district will meet its budget requirements for two years:

Schools urged not to rescind pink slips | districts, billion, bennett - The Orange County Register

Sadly we also have more furlough days and fewer instructional days than some of the neighbhoring school districts.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by aliciapeet

Saddleback has a "qualified" status which means it may not meet its finanicial obligations as compared to Irvine or Orange which is "positive" meaning the district will meet its budget requirements

Why are some districts in the black (positive) and some in the red (qualified)?

[aliciapeet]

So as of right now only Aliso elementary is closed..the other two have not been closed yet...however one of the parents was told that it would just be a matter of time before the other two are closed...to prevent too much opposition from parents and the community they will stagger the closings.